The old nature and the new

[Prentis]

I believe as you do that we all are given the ability to "Choose" but I believe that ability comes from God as Jesus states in John 6:44,65 We are all born in sin so our natural instinct is to sin, unless that nature is changed (and we are powerless to change it) we will continue to reject all that Christ has done and is constantly doing for us, for the human mind is so inferior to that of GOD that being carnal we can't, or have no desire to, accept His Grace, for we are told that "We are saved by Grace through Faith but this is not of our own, it is the gift of GOD lest anyone should boast" those of us who "choose" to accept that Grace will be given it "if we seek it with all our heart" we are being Sanctified but still have a long way to go....Ray

I do agree that even this is from God.

Only I also think we should not judge that someone, because they do not walk in the new nature, are certainly evil. Rather, they are fallen, like all humans. But they may, though they be weak in righteousness, still chose it, and love their neighbor, therefore fulfilling the law.

As for us, we receive grace freely... But for a purpose, that we might run the race. If men can be righteous without the new nature, how greatly our righteousness should exceed theirs if we have the very nature of Christ given to us! We are given more, and thus more is expected.

 

[aspen]

We had the ability to choose before the Fall. The ability to choose is independent of right and wrong. Before the Fall, all of our choices were between good things, thoughts, behaviors, etc because they were all God/neighbor focused. After the Fall, we could only choose between lesser good choices apart from God because they were all self focused. Christ came to teach us to love again...love is God and neighbor focused - once again we can choose between good choices. Unfortunately we are still tempted by selfish choices. Every time we sin we are eating from the tree once again. Thankfully the HS is working in our hearts -teaching us to love perfectly - one day, in heaven we will be fully human and fully redeemed. AMEN

 

[Prentis]

We had the ability to choose before the Fall. The ability to choose is independent of right and wrong. Before the Fall, all of our choices were between good things, thoughts, behaviors, etc because they were all God/neighbor focused. After the Fall, we could only choose between lesser good choices apart from God because they were all self focused. Christ came to teach us to love again...love is God and neighbor focused - once again we can choose between good choices. Unfortunately we are still tempted by selfish choices. Every time we sin we are eating from the tree once again. Thankfully the HS is working in our hearts -teaching us to love perfectly - one day, in heaven we will be fully human and fully redeemed. AMEN

Good post!

Indeed, if all we see, and all we are filled with is the Spirit of God, it is impossible for us to think an evil thought, thus it says that he in whom God's seed remains does not sin! This man walks fully in the Spirit, with zero reliance on the flesh.

We are but vessels, and we overflow with what we are filled. By our eyes, our senses, we have access only to lower choices. But by faith, we have access to God's Spirit, and by this, we can be filled with him, and emptied of ourselves. In this, we take on his thoughts, see with his eyes.... We see the kingdom!